Tenby grab expected win, but miss out on bonus point

Milford Haven 8 pts. Tenby United 16

In a game played in very testing conditions, with the very strong wind coming off Milford Sound and blowing directly across the pitch, Chevron sponsored Tenby United gained their expected win against a spirited home side, but failed to capitalise on their dominance by yet again missing out on the try bonus point which, if this trend continues, could prove vital at the end of the season. With all but leaders Hendy gaining a win in this round of matches, the critical grouping at the top of the table is being determined by the clubs that have managed to gain bonus points, with a range of four to six points being recorded, while Tenby have only managed one to date. Despite not having played a competitive league game for seven weeks, Tenby got off to a flyer, with a storming charge by Sam Smith setting-up a ruck situation on the Milford line, which ended with prop Mark Brace burrowing his way over for the first score. This was quickly followed by a penalty by Tom Lewis putting Tenby eight points up and looking good for a bonus point victory with only 10 minutes on the clock. Unfortunately, influential centre Mark Heywood was carried off during this opening salvo and with James Ireland also being unable to get to the game due to work commitments, coach Davies had been forced to start with Aled Griffiths at fullback and with Heywood leaving the field, put his only remaining back replacement, scrum-half Will Crockford, out on the wing. Despite the difficult handling conditions, Tenby tried to play open rugby and a rare slick backs move saw Will Crockford put free, allowing him to skip around his opposite number, only to be clattered into touch by a scrambling home defence. Milford were slowly getting into the game, using their aggressive rucking to unsettle the Tenby outfit, and a series of forward charges set-up an opportunity for their backs to show their paces, but a well organised Tenby defence put them under pressure and a scrappy phase of play ended with Tom Lewis intercepting a hurried pass on his 22 and setting-off on a long curving run to the try line. His conversion attempt held up in the strong wind as Tenby established a comfortable 13-point lead. The lead was reduced almost immediately with a penalty given away for offside as Milford got back into their stride and Tenby were now being forced to defend for lengthy periods as a spirited home side strung together several passages of play that threatened the United line. Getting their act back together, Tenby looked geared to add to their two tries when a good attacking platform was set-up by Aled Griffiths, Sam Smith and Nicky Guymer, only for a wild pass by scrum-half Rhys Thomas to get caught in the wind, and it was a relieved Thomas who eventually scrambled the ball into touch near the Tenby line. The crossfield wind was also causing problems for the home side, and a dropped ball was hoofed on the fly straight into the hands of Tom Lewis, who reacted quickly and released Rhys Thomas on a long arcing run for the line, only for a desperate Milford defence to get back and haul Will Crockford down as he headed for the try line. Slanting rain had now added to the problems and Tenby finished the half camped on the Milford line, with the back row of Nicky Guymer, Emyr Hughes and Sam Smith leading their fellow forwards as they attempted to capitalise on a series of potential scoring chances, only for the final pass to go to ground or sail harmlessly into touch. Testing out the strengthening crossfield wind, Tom Lewis gave a glimpse of what might happen in the second half when his clearance from the restart, deep in the Tenby 22, sailed over the touchline on the Milford 22. Whatever had been said at half-time by coaches Davies and Katalau had obviously been taken on board by the Tenby XV as they applied pressure on the home side in a series of rolling mauls, one ending with a penalty being awarded for pulling down, which saw Lewis screw his attempt well wide of the uprights as the wind forced the ball to sail towards the touchline. A missed tackle in midfield by the usually reliable Ifan Davies gave the home side the chance they needed to threaten the Tenby line and a hack through was cleverly dealt with by the back- tracking Dai Meyrick. Milford were trying to increase the tempo, but did themselves no favours when a quickly taken tap penalty in a threatening position was not taken from the mark and a few harsh comments about the referee's decision gave Lewis the extra 20 metres he needed to have another pot at goal. Aided by the following wind, his somewhat ambitious attempt just shaved the upright and Milford were very lucky not to have paid more dearly for their latest bout of back chat. This near miss seemed to spark Tenby back into life and a series of moves involving a rampaging Johnny Lane and his supporting second rows, Gareth Edwards and Ifan Davies, tested the home defence as they just about stopped the visitors from increasing the lead. The backs also got in on the act, with classy fullback Aled Griffiths and livewire scrum-half Rhys Thomas combining to rip through the disorganised home defence, only for the scoring opportunity to be squandered when Thomas decided to cross kick, just as a frustrated Paul Luger cut inside expecting to be given what would have been a scoring pass. Milford were obviously rattled by these series of near misses and their frustration with the referee ended with several penalties, nearly all increased by an extra 10 metres for back-chatting becoming the norm. The hard working Mark Brace was replaced by Ben Cray, just before Milford were rewarded with their first try of the afternoon, aided somewhat by some suicidal attempts by Tenby to keep a high up-and- under launched by Milford in play, as the ball swirled around in the wind. The comedy of errors ended with Milford deservedly closing the score to 13-8. An injury to prop Johnny Lane, and a change of personnel, saw Mark Brace retake the field along with Wyndham Williams and Emori Katalau, who replaced Mike Lewis and Gareth Edwards. This seemed to spur Tenby on and a huge penalty punt by Tom Lewis was fumbled by the Milford fullback, giving the visitors an ideal opportunity to attack the home line, but a series of dropped passes saw Milford hoof the ball back deep into the Tenby 22 and in the passage of play that followed, a flurry of pushes and punches ended with Nicky Guymer and the Milford number eight receiving yellow cards for their endeavours. Rhys Thomas was fingered by coach Davies to leave the action as it required Mike Lewis to return to the fray to slot into the hooking role vacated by the departed Guymer. Tenby were rewarded for their persistence when a blatant 'entering a rolling maul from the side' offence ended with Lewis successfully firing over the penalty awarded to increase the Tenby lead to 16-8. This late score seemed to totally frustrate several of the Milford players and for yet another tirade of verbals aimed at the referee, second row Dean Hadley was yellow-carded and with his departure Milford seemed to accept that they were going to be beaten, as the 14 men just about kept surges by Mark Brace, Sam Smith, Nicky Guymer and Gavin Brace from crossing the whitewash as referee Williams blew for time Coach Davies was pleased with a win, coming as it did following a lengthy period of inactivity, but was totally frustrated by the inconsistency shown by the team and their inability to capitalise on the number of scoring opportunities created; all of which soured a win and four points which could, and should, have been a much-needed five-pointer. With a full January programme lined up, including matches against two of the top three sides, home to Trimsaran next week and away to leaders Hendy, along with tricky games away against Llandeilo and finishing with Tycroes (who have already beaten Tenby) at Heywood Lane, the start of 2008 will be the defining period of the season for the United and one which the players need to grasp if they have any thoughts or aspirations of promotion. Tenby fielded: Aled Griffiths, Dai Meyrick, Gavin Brace, Mark Heywood (Will Crockford), Paul Luger, Tom Lewis, Rhys Thomas, Mark Brace (Ben Cray), Mike Lewis (Wyndham Williams), Johnny Lane, Ifan Davies, Gareth Edwards, (Emori Katalau), Sam Smith, Nicky Guymer.